The 11th Hour was produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio and was released in 2007.
2.What is the central argument or narrative of the film?
The main issue that this film discusses is how we are severely affecting our earth in such a way that is a danger to our very existence. There are multiple factors that need to be taken into account in order to significantly reduce the negative impact we are having on several sustainability issues in the world. The film introduces a lot of adjustments we as individuals can make and different types of systems can change in order to solve this issue. Our current societal structure has been preventing us from achieving this, and the only way to successfully save ourselves and our planet is to make policy changes across the globe that will be followed. We are leaders, so why can’t we lead in the right direction and be the green generation we are meant to be.
3.What sustainability problems does the film draw out?
There are several sustainability issues that the film addresses. One of the major ones is the issue of climate change. The biosphere is in trouble, as our economy and society depend on fossil fuels such as oil that contribute to CO2 emissions, atmosphere chemical imbalance, raising temperatures, droughts, floods, storms, melting, deforestation, and other environmental problems. Another sustainability problem is the media control over other sustainability issues. The scientific community is in agreement in many of these detrimental environmental and health problems that the media does not fully represent and cover. Corporations contribute to another dynamic of social and political problems that affect the environment. These companies are only looking for power and profit, and they see the environment as property, which is supported by the law. The economy is geared to expand and grow exponentially, but what happens when we reach the end? Another sustainability issue is the government. Public policy has not followed the public opinion in recent history, and this has had negative effects on the environment. Governments have been supporting these corporate giants, which in turn allow companies to decide what happens to our planet. Involved with all of these sustainability issues, our own health has been a problem, as there has been a substantial increase in childhood diseases.
4.What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?
What I found most interesting in the movie was that Homo sapiens have existed in an extremely small part on the timeline of earth. If earth began on January 1st, we would have lived in the last sixty seconds of the last hour on December 31st. That is a significantly small time slot. Now, even for the short amount of time that we have existed on earth, we have managed to change it the most, especially in a negative way. We think we are separated from nature, and that we are an entirely different entity because the level of our intelligence and dominance over other species. However, we are not separate. We are a part of nature. The one great thing about our species is that we can look into the future and plan our next course of action. This means we still have time in order to help save the planet and ourselves.
5.What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?
The one part that I was kind of skeptical about was one economic suggestion an interviewee said. He stated that if we reduced income taxes and raised the carbon tax, we could wean away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Personally, I don’t have that much knowledge in economics. This would be something that I would want to research.
6.What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?
I would want to look deeper into the mass distinctions that we have been causing on our planet. The film stated that we kill hundreds of species a year and I want to learn what has been done in order to combat this. If we are killing off creatures that live in our environments that prove that we are significantly affecting our planet in a negative way. We need to change. I am also intrigued by the various green technologies that were shown in the film that I would want to research into more depth. Maybe I will be able to adopt similar systems in my lifestyle in the future.
7.What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems?
The audiences that the film best addresses would be college students and grown adults. These viewers can make substantial changes in governmental and business policies that can have a positive effect. I believe that in college education, these students can enter the workforce understanding the more important problems that we as a species are facing. They will be able to develop solutions that will help reverse the effects past generations have bestowed upon us. I believe adults that are already in the workforce have already begun greener technologies that will be implemented in the near future. This film will help change the viewer’s opinion on the systems that impact the environment.
8.What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?
There are several solutions that were offered by the movie. One solution was that we need to reinvent the industrial system so that we produce and manufacture products that will benefit the world. In correlation to this change, consumer habits should also be adjusted so that we as individuals and as a whole focus more on the quality of life. Sustainability was a big concern in this film, as design was suggested to be changed to support greener technologies. By developing and encouraging alternative energy resources, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. The film discussed that the number of environmental groups all over the world are increasing and uniting together in order achieve a common goal. The viewer should ask the question, “How can I help?” and join the fight to save our earth.
9.What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?
I believe this film did a fantastic job on representing the environmental problems that we face today and the severe consequences we may face in the future.
The 11th Hour
1. Title, director and release year?
The 11th Hour was produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio and was released in 2007.
2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?
The main issue that this film discusses is how we are severely affecting our earth in such a way that is a danger to our very existence. There are multiple factors that need to be taken into account in order to significantly reduce the negative impact we are having on several sustainability issues in the world. The film introduces a lot of adjustments we as individuals can make and different types of systems can change in order to solve this issue. Our current societal structure has been preventing us from achieving this, and the only way to successfully save ourselves and our planet is to make policy changes across the globe that will be followed. We are leaders, so why can’t we lead in the right direction and be the green generation we are meant to be.
3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?
There are several sustainability issues that the film addresses. One of the major ones is the issue of climate change. The biosphere is in trouble, as our economy and society depend on fossil fuels such as oil that contribute to CO2 emissions, atmosphere chemical imbalance, raising temperatures, droughts, floods, storms, melting, deforestation, and other environmental problems. Another sustainability problem is the media control over other sustainability issues. The scientific community is in agreement in many of these detrimental environmental and health problems that the media does not fully represent and cover. Corporations contribute to another dynamic of social and political problems that affect the environment. These companies are only looking for power and profit, and they see the environment as property, which is supported by the law. The economy is geared to expand and grow exponentially, but what happens when we reach the end? Another sustainability issue is the government. Public policy has not followed the public opinion in recent history, and this has had negative effects on the environment. Governments have been supporting these corporate giants, which in turn allow companies to decide what happens to our planet. Involved with all of these sustainability issues, our own health has been a problem, as there has been a substantial increase in childhood diseases.
4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?
What I found most interesting in the movie was that Homo sapiens have existed in an extremely small part on the timeline of earth. If earth began on January 1st, we would have lived in the last sixty seconds of the last hour on December 31st. That is a significantly small time slot. Now, even for the short amount of time that we have existed on earth, we have managed to change it the most, especially in a negative way. We think we are separated from nature, and that we are an entirely different entity because the level of our intelligence and dominance over other species. However, we are not separate. We are a part of nature. The one great thing about our species is that we can look into the future and plan our next course of action. This means we still have time in order to help save the planet and ourselves.
5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?
The one part that I was kind of skeptical about was one economic suggestion an interviewee said. He stated that if we reduced income taxes and raised the carbon tax, we could wean away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Personally, I don’t have that much knowledge in economics. This would be something that I would want to research.
6. What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?
I would want to look deeper into the mass distinctions that we have been causing on our planet. The film stated that we kill hundreds of species a year and I want to learn what has been done in order to combat this. If we are killing off creatures that live in our environments that prove that we are significantly affecting our planet in a negative way. We need to change. I am also intrigued by the various green technologies that were shown in the film that I would want to research into more depth. Maybe I will be able to adopt similar systems in my lifestyle in the future.
7. What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems?
The audiences that the film best addresses would be college students and grown adults. These viewers can make substantial changes in governmental and business policies that can have a positive effect. I believe that in college education, these students can enter the workforce understanding the more important problems that we as a species are facing. They will be able to develop solutions that will help reverse the effects past generations have bestowed upon us. I believe adults that are already in the workforce have already begun greener technologies that will be implemented in the near future. This film will help change the viewer’s opinion on the systems that impact the environment.
8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?
There are several solutions that were offered by the movie. One solution was that we need to reinvent the industrial system so that we produce and manufacture products that will benefit the world. In correlation to this change, consumer habits should also be adjusted so that we as individuals and as a whole focus more on the quality of life. Sustainability was a big concern in this film, as design was suggested to be changed to support greener technologies. By developing and encouraging alternative energy resources, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. The film discussed that the number of environmental groups all over the world are increasing and uniting together in order achieve a common goal. The viewer should ask the question, “How can I help?” and join the fight to save our earth.
9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?
I believe this film did a fantastic job on representing the environmental problems that we face today and the severe consequences we may face in the future.